Lancaster City Council leader allays cuts fears

There will be no immediate cuts to council-run services and venues such as the Platform in Morecambe.

Published:15:54Wednesday 07 January 2015

The leader of Lancaster City Council has assured taxpayers there will be no massive service cuts in this year’s budget - although part of our council tax could rise by 1.99%.

Coun Eileen Blamire said budget projections revealed swingeing cuts will be avoided “for the time being”.

There were fears that council-run venues including Salt Ayre Sports Centre and The Platform could be under threat after an across-the-board review of services and reports published prior to the 2014/15 budget. The city council has also suffered a £1.7m cut in its Government grant and a 6.4% cut in its spending power, among the largest for councils nationwide.

But the council is expected to use around £900,000 from money in its balances to help balance the books in 2015/16.

The city council’s portion of council tax could also rise by 1.99%.

Coun Blamire said: “The latest budget projections show that our strategy of making savings during the year has been successful so far and as a result we have avoided having to make further cuts for the time being.”

The council will host a presentation on its budget plans at Morecambe Town Hall on Tuesday January 27 at 6pm. All welcome.